ATO manager wins at Air Force level

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Phillip Butterfield
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  The Air Force announced its 2009 Air Force level Antiterrorism Award winners May 21, with Misawa Air Base's Antiterrorism Office taking away the best program manager award. 

James Fogerty, 35th Fighter Wing ATO program manager, beat all other ATO program managers to garner this award. The categories his program was being graded on were: senior management antiterrorism responsibilities, major antiterrorism program achievements, highlights from service vulnerability assessment, innovative actions, training efforts, awareness management, force protection condition management and intelligence program. 

"It is humbling," said Mr. Fogerty. "While this award is for best program manager, without the full support of commanders of all the services, unit AT representatives, civilians, contractors, family members, and our host nation partners, there would be no program to speak of. In addition, there are others working hard behind the scenes at every military base in the world. To me, this award represents all of them." 

Misawa has made improvements in technology such as the new Defense Biometric Identification System. This $260,000 system is used as a database and a means of identification for service members and dependents entering and exiting base. But it goes beyond that, to include effective counter-intelligence from Air Force Office of Special Investigation, fused intelligence from a variety of joint and bilateral agencies, analyzing and addressing vulnerabilities with a cross-functional team, Mr. Fogerty said. 

"I don't think many people have a good understanding of the entire scope of antiterrorism but that is improving over time," said Mr. Fogerty. "Antiterrorism is actually only one pillar of force protection, but it takes the combined efforts of everyone on base to make it work."
Next, the program manager category nomination will be forwarded as the Air Force component submission to the Defense Department. 

"I am proud of Mr. Fogerty's accomplishment. It's well-deserved," said Col. David Stilwell, 35th FW commander. "In our minds, it simply verifies what we've known all along. He is leading the way in the Air Force antiterrorism and force protection efforts. Please don't let the award make you think antiterrorism is a one-person job. Antiterrorism is everyone's business. If we continue to follow Mr. Fogerty's lead, we'll continue to succeed." 

The ATO also won the installation category award for PACAF which, although not selected by the component, could possibly be selected by the combatant command, with the winners being announced later this year. The installation category covers more specific actions of other units on base that make vital contributions to the overall antiterrorism effort, Mr. Fogerty added. 

With other awards pending for the ATO, Mr. Fogerty's accomplishments have improved Misawa's security for the foreseeable future.